Thread: Victorian new Drink/Drug Driving laws.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

The average speed cameras? They only track trucks in NSW.

for now

The single point speed cameras? everyone knows where they are unless they are a stranger to the area and some navigation systems warn where they are. I am surprised they catch many at all.

they catch the inattentive ...

but quite a few are located to encourage the many to drive slower through an area.
It's a behavioral thing. Put a speed camera in a 100 km/h zone, and most drivers will slow to 90 / 95

Originally Posted by ian

for now

they catch the inattentive ...

but quite a few are located to encourage the many to drive slower through an area.
It's a behavioral thing. Put a speed camera in a 100 km/h zone, and most drivers will slow to 90 / 95

Not likely to change until a Labour Govt is voted in as the Nats have it as one of their policies to leave them for trucks only. Clearly the intent is to slow drivers down in the area, whether the camera works or not or there is one in the box is irrelevant.

Originally Posted by Glider

I've often wondered if the accident rate for P plate drivers has reduced since the 120 hrs. rule was introduced.

The word in the "corridors of knowledge" is that the 120 hours requirement has resulted in a substantial reduction in the crash rate for red P plate drivers.

When I first came to AU 15 years ago I looked into getting a Victorian drivers license. I called Vicroads, they asked which country I'm coming from and as soon as I said Greece they said all they want is $50 and a photo. I did that and got a VIC license in 5 minutes, that was it. They didn't even give me a pamphlet or anything.

Immediately after I was dangerous as a heart attack on the road. There are serious differences in road rules, for example where I came from the driver entering a roundabout has the right of way and the cars in the roundabout are supposed to yield. I had no idea it's the opposite here. Also I'd never seen a tram before, I didn't know what a hook turn is, and although I don't remember what the rule is officially, the common practice in Greece is that in most instances cars have the right of way over pedestrians and because of this generally pedestrians are much more aware of their surroundings when crossing, here they just look down and cross. And many other things.

Somehow I came out of it alive and without killing anybody.

If a teenager gets a learners permit just after their 16th birthday they would need about 1 hour of driving a week to total 120 hours by the time they are 18 and eligible to have a practical driving test.

Yes you can get driving experience and never encounter a tram, railway crossing, hook turn, P turn, peak hour snail moving traffic or take a vehicle off a sealed road before getting a licence, but then it depends where in the state you reside. It is also possible to get lots of experience with trams and railway crossings but never go on a freeway, toll way, country or unsealed road. Depends on your supervisor.

Both my children have a licence. One had a learners permit for two years, the other twelve months and I tried to give them a range of experiences.